The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-02-24
STANTON. VIRGINIA. FEBRUARY "a, 1887.
Poultry Raising in Virginia.

CHASE Cry. VA, February ell
these times. when farm products ART
greatly depressed, and tobacco and wheat
our chief money crops, scarcely pay thu
cost of production, our people should loos
around for other sources from which profit
may be derived.
am impressed with this fact By observ-
ing here q large poultry yard, with its
Plymouth. Rock, Wyandotte, Cochin
China, Langshan and Leghorn fowls, and
making some Investigations about the
poultry business and prospective profits,
l am satisfied that no business with the
same capital employed will pay a larger
return. Proportionate to the amount of
care and expense given, no other COM
modify upon the farm VIII give so large
and certain remuneration.
The Lone Oak Poultry Yard. of this
place, is something new for our section,
and although the owner, Mr.. J. P. Pritch-
ard, has Other regular employment, he
finds time to give attention to this bust
ness and make it profitable. He has one
large house, divided into four apartments,
and used as breeding rooms for thorough
breds of the purest and most approved
strains. The rooms are we'll arranged,
ventilated and warm. Another house, IA
by Sc feet, is used for young stock and set
ting hens, and is lined with tarred felt pa
per, and has glass fronts looking south
The yards are extensive, with shade trees,
fresh water and partitions Of wire net
work. His stock is from the most noted
poultry men of the United States. Mr.
Pritchard has visited the great poultry
raisers of the Northern States, and seen
the business in its perfection. He in.
formed me Of one on Long Island, N. Y.
where were Matched $4,000 chickens per
year, and using ten incutators, of ca
pacity of 1000 eggs for each one.
The people North and West are largely
engaged in this industry. and make 1T
highly profitable. Why cannot our Vir-
ginia people, with all the advantages of
climate, cheap food and abundant room,
do the same? Many look upon the bust
ness as too small and troublesome, and
until they realize that in order to keep
abreast of the progressiveness of the
times and diversity their industries, and
make everything available, they will
always remain in ali embarrassed coEdi
ton.
The following statistics will show the |
magnitude of the business in 1Ss2-the |
most recent could get-and will aston
ish many. The cash value of the prin-
cipal farm products of the United States
are:
Poultry and eggs. $56O,o0o,Ooo wheat. |
$4SS, 100000; hay, $3.50, 0,000 cotton,
$40, o0o,o 900; dairy products, 1854 .000,- |
900.
The facts show that the value of the |
poultry and eggs raised in the United |
States was $3.50, 100000 more than the
cotton crop, and greatly exceeded even
the. wheat crop. Notwithstanding this
immense production Of eggs, the same
year the United States imported upwards
of 100000 dozens Of eggs. And the
and demand annually in
crease.
1t has been ascertained from actual test |
that the cost per pound to raise poultry
and place it upon the market is between 4
and cents, and that of eggs to 6 cents
per dozen. The average price when sold
is to 10 cents Fer pound, and eggs 1oa to T
Is cents per dozen, thus showing profit
Of from so to 100 per cent, and there
can always be found q ready market for
any quantity at all seasons of the year.
strains for Matching, to II dollars can be
obtained, and for tcockerels from two to
three dollars each.
The improved fowls of standard ysrie
ties offer wide range for fancy. The es-
adjustment Of ar y one of the leading va
rieties of fowls involves the expenditure
of much money and time of men educated
IN the numerous complex laws governing
the breeders art, The standard varieties
Of to-day are the results of some well-laid |
plan, direc ed to the development of GER
tain characteristics for hardness, profit,
economy or beauty. Eggs of thorough
bred are within the reach Of any beginner
in the poultry business. am Informed
that single bird Of thoroughbreds, at
eight months old, VIII produce the follow
ing year, at least one hundred chickens,
which would furnish the foundation for
large and profitable poultry business
Eggs for breeding purposes would sell ev- |
cry year for more than enough to buy new
blood sufficient to keep any flock strong
and true in character. T. D. ].